Liquid container



July 26, 1938. F, GQLL ET AL 2,124,565

A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed March 5. 1934 INVENTORS Fen/var Q 6041. BY JIMA'J' A MEI/{14M A TTORNEY Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID CONTAINER tion of Pennsylvania Application March 3, 1934. Serial No. 713,840

7 Claims. (CI. 220-9) This invention relates to metal vessels for storing and shipping liquids. It relates especially to the construction of metal barrels and similar vessels for the storage and transportation of liquids, such as beer and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved metal barrel. Another object is to provide a strong but light metal barrel which may be used either with or without an insulating cover of rubber or other material. A further object of this invention is to provide improved fittings for metal barrels of the type specified.

These and other objects of the invention will further appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. in which:

Fig. l is a side elevatlonal view, partially in section, of one type of barrel with an insulating cover applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the barrel shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of another portion of the barrel;

Fig. 4 is a view from the position-indicated by the line IVIV of Fig. 1, showing a portion of the barrel without the cover; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a portion of the barrel with the insulating cover removed.

In the drawing, in which like characters of reference refer to similar parts in each of the views, i represents a metal barrel for beer or' other liquids which is preferably made chiefly of sheet metal, such as stainless steel or preferably aluminum. The barrel may be substantially cylindrical but is preferably bilged somewhat. It is provided substantially centrally with an integral circumferential band or wide rib 5, which may be formed by deforming the side walls of the barrel outwardly, for example, and this band has the function of strengthening the barrel and protecting the remainder of the barrel wall. barrel is preferably made in two halves or sections 6 and l which are readily formed by drawing and spinning sheet metal in known manner, and which are enlarged adjacent their open ends to form the rib or band 5. The two halves are joined by a circumferential weld, as indicated at I. This method of forming is preferable'because of its simplicity and low cost, but other methods may be employed, if desired. For example, the barrel heads may be formed separately and welded or otherwise attached to the side walls of the sections 8 and 1.

Before or after Joining the halves of the barrel,

portions of their adjoining side walls are cut out The to form an opening in which a side bung fitting l is fixed, preferably by welding around its edge. This fitting replaces part of the circumferential band I and preferably has an external contour conforming with the contour of the barrel, so that it causes little or no irregularity in the barrel surface and does not interfere with rolling or otherwise handling the barrel. The fitting is preferably rectangular in shape and may be substantially square as viewed from the top or bottom, although a circular or otherwise curved form of fitting may be employed if desired. In its preferred rectangular form the fitting 9 has a length (measured longitudinally of the barrel) greater than the width of the rib or band 5. so that the pair of opposite sides which may be considered the ends of the fitting are attached to the regular portions of the side walls of the sections 6 and i of the barrel, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The inner surface of the fitting is preferably flat throughout its length and throughout most of its width, as shown in the drawing, but the edges may be curved or bent into alignment with the portions of the barrel wall to which they are to be attached, as shown in Fig. 4, for example. Some deformation of the edges will ordinarily be necessary, at least at the sides of the fitting, as these sides are attached in part to the band 5 and in part to the regular or unraised portions of the barrel wall, as shown. Such deformation or shaping is readily provided in the initial stamping, forging or casting of the fitting, however. It will be noted that shaping the exterior of the fitting to conform with the exterior of the barrel and keeping the interior surface fiat gives the fitting a maximum thickness at or near its center and makes the edges relatively thin. This is advantageous as the side bung opening ii formed substantially centrally in the fitting then has walls of sufiiclent length to adequately engage a driven bung (not shown) and the edges of the fitting are thin enough to be easily welded to the barrel wall. Also, the fiat inner surface having a length substantially equal to or greater than the width of the rib, and preferably having a similar width, permits the barrel to drain easily and completely.

If the barrel is to be provided with an insulating cover of molded rubber or the like, the fitting may be provided with a groove l3 which is preferably concentric with the bung opening ii. This groove may be partially or completely formed during the original casting or forging operation, but it is preferably machined to its final form. Grooves of other shapes or more than one groove may, of course, be used to sup plement or replace the described groove, if desired. 1

The heads l5 of the barrel are preferably depressed inwardly, or connected to inwardlyturned continuations of the side walls of the barrel, as shown best in Fig. 1. This forms an annular rim or chime around the end of the barrel and integral with the barrel walls, thus protecting and strengthening the barrel and making it unnecessary to use a separately formed chime member. In at least one end of the barrel, and preferably in both ends, the rim 11 is enlarged or widened into a boss or projection I! at one side of the barrel head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, for example. An opening which is preferably circular is made substantially centrally in the boss i3 at one end of the barrel, and a tap bushing or fitting 2| is secured in the openiiig, as by welding. When the other half of the barrel is also provided with a boss l3, it is preferably aligned with the boss containing the tap fitting, so that it may serve as a collecting sump or pocket from which the contents of the barrel may be discharged.

The tap fitting 2| may be of any suitable form, such as the well known Peerless type of fitting, for example. This type of fitting consists essentially of an outwardly facing cupped or recessed part 23 having a central aperture therein, and a nipple 24 extending outwardly from the apertured base of the cupped portion, to which it is firmly connected. The nipple 24 is provided on its outer end with interrupted flanges 25 or known equivalent means for engaging a tapping device. The flanged outer end of the nipple may be flush with the surfaces of the chime H and the projecting portion I3 of the barrel head, or may extend outwardly therefrom or be disposed inwardly therefrom, depending on the extent to which the projecting portion I3 is depressed around the fitting and on the part of the wall of the cupped portion 23 of the fitting which is joined to the barrel head.

When the barrel is to be provided with a covering of the type shown in Fig. 1, it may be desirable to form a recess or groove 21 around the exterior of the cupped section 23 of the fitting to receive the edge of the cover. This may be done by depressing the edge of the metal surrounding the opening and joining it to the lower part of the outer wall of the fitting 2|, or by providing on the outer wall of the fitting a suitable flange to which the metal surrounding the opening in the boss is secured. Such a flange may extend radially outward from the side of the cupped portion 23 of the fitting, or may extend outward and then upward, or outward and upward and then outward again. as indicated at 23 in Fig. 1.

This barrel may be successfully used without any insulating or protective covering but, as in the case of substantially all metal barrels, it is more satisfactory for use in hot climates or when exposed for long periods to heat from the sun or other source, if it is provided with some insulation. We have found that molded or vulcanized rubber makes a very satisfactory covering when insulation is desired, as it need not be excessively heavy or expensive and it is readly applied and remains serviceable for long periods. A suitable rubber covering or casing may be applied to the barrel described hereinabove in any of several ways, as by applying a layer of raw or partially vulcanized rubber to the surface of the barrel and molding it to the desired form and then vulcanizing it in place. When this method of application is employed, the co leted covering forms a single piece of material adhering to the barrel surface, and the groove l3 in the side bung fitting 9 and groove 21 in or around the end bung fitting 2| may be omitted. In that case the edges of the covering around the end and side openings are preferably tapered.

While the one-piece vulcanized coating is generally satisfactory and may even be preferable in some instances, it is usually more desirable, from the standpoint of convenience and economy, to employ a preformed sectional covering of the type shown in the drawing, for example. This covering is preferably made in three sections, these being end sections 3| and 32 and a central section 33. As shown, section 3| of the cover is applied to one half 3 of the barrel and extends to the central rib or band 5, and section 32 is applied to the other half I of the barrel in a similar manner. The central section 33 extends circumferentially around the center of the barrel, covering the band 5 and joining the sections 3| and 32. For convenience in joining, the edges of the sections 3| and 32 are preferably provided with outwardly extending flanges or thickened portions 35 which are adapted to engage inwardly-extending flanges 33 on the central portion 33 of the cover. These flanges may be straight-sided or may have complementary inclinations or curvatures, as shown. The end section 3| is also provided with an opening in its head end, and preferably with a flanged or thickened portion 33 at the edge of the opening shaped to seat in the groove or recess 21 surrounding the tap fitting 2|. The central section 33 of the covering is provided with an opening coinciding with the side bung opening H and preferably has an inwardly extending flange or rib 4|! which engages the groove |3 in the side bung fitting ii.

The cover sections 3|, 32 and 33 are molded to conform closely with the surfaces of the parts of the barrel to which they are to be applied and are vulcanized or cured sufficiently, before application, to give them the desired hardness and wearing qualities without destroying the elasticity. The outer surfaces of the cover sections may be given any desired form during the molding operation. For example, it may be desirable to provide ribs or grooves 42 on the portions of the end sections covering the inner sides of the chime H, to facilitate handling. Circumferential ribs 43 or other patterns may also be provided on the central section 33 of the cover to improve wear and facilitate handling, if desired.

It will now be readily understood that the preferred sectional form of cover is readily applied to the barrel and may be readily removed for repair or replacement. The interlocking or engaging flanges 35 and 33 hold the cover so tightly that it is almost never accidentally detached, however. Other materials having suitable resilient, wear-resisting and heat-insulating properties may be substituted for the rubber, but we have found that the rubber covering is preferable andthat a relatively thin covering of rubber gives to the barrel thermal characteristics edual or superior to those of a wooden barrel. It is, of course, within our contemplation to apply covers of this type to barrels of other than the preferred type described hereinabove. Various changes and modifications may be made in the barrel or the cover, in addition to those described hereinabove, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A single wall metal barrel for beer and the like having an external centrally positioned apertured circumferential rib formed integrally therewith and a rectangular side bung fitting mounted in the aperture and forming a section of said rib and conforming externally to the contour thereof, said fitting having one pair of opposite edges attached to said rib, the other pair being attached to the sides of the barrel and being curved to form flanges of the same thickness as the portion of the wall to which they are at tached, said side bung fitting having a substantially fiat inner surface.

2. A single wall container for liquids, comprising a barrel body, a side bung fitting conforming externally with said barrel body and having a substantially flat inner surface, said fitting having an opening therethrough and ha ing in its outer surface a recess, and a molded insulating covering closely contacting the barrel body and having an opening aligned with the opening in the side bung fitting and a projection seated in the recess in said fitting.

3. A metal barrel comprising a barrel body having heads and side walls, said beads being set inwardly from the respective ends of the side walls and connected to integral inwardly-turned continuations of the side walls, said continuations forming a rim around and extending longitudinally outward from each barrel head, each rim having a widened portion adjacent one s de of the barrel, the widened portions being in mgitudinal alignment, and a tap fitting mounted in one of said widened portions.

4. A single wall metal barrel comprising a pair of barrel body halves joined by a circumferential weld, each of said halves having a side wall and being closed at one end by an integral head disposed inwardly from the end of the side wall and connected to an inwardly-turned continuation thereof forming a rim around the head, the other end of the side wall being diametrically enlarged and joined to the similarly enlarged portion of the side wall of the other half to form an outwardly-extending circumferential band substantially centrally encircling the barrel, 9. side bung fitting mounted in an aperture in said band and having an opening therethrough, said side bung fitting conforming exterlorly with said circumferential band and forming on the interior of the barrel a free-draining surface to said opening and a tap fitting mounted in the rim surrounding the head at one end of the barrel.

5. In a single wall metal barrel having a side bung fitting, an exteriorly extending centrally positioned circumferential band formed by an enlarged portion of the barrel body, said side bung fitting being a unitary structure forming a continuation of said circumferential band and having a thickness at the bung opening sufficient to retain a driven bung and tapering at the edges to a thickness equal to the thickness of the barrel body, said bung fitting forming with the barrel body a continuous free-draining interior surface.

6. In a single wall metal barrel having a side bung fitting, an exteriorly extending centrally positioned circumferential band formed by an enlarged portion of the barrel body, said side bung fitting being a unitary structure forming a continuation of said circumferential band and having a thickness at the bung opening sufficient to retain a driven bung and tapering at the edges thereof, the bottom of said fitting being substantiaily flat with the edges thereof meeting said band thereby forming with the barrel body a continuous free-draining interior surface.

1. In a single wall metal barrel having a side bung fitting, an exteriorly extending centrally positioned circumferential band formed by an enlarged portion of the barrel body. said side bung fitting being a unitary structure forming a continuation of said circumferential band and having a thickness at the bung opening sumcient to reta n a driven bung and tapering at the edges thereof, the edges of the said fitting meeting said band thereby forming with the barrel body a continuous free-draining interior surface.

FRANK D. GOLL. JAMES K. WAREHAM.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,121+, 565.

July 26, 19

FRANK D. GOLL, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 28, for the word "beads' read heads; and that the said Let- .ters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this Othday of August, A. c.19 8.

( Seal) Henry Van Aredale Acting Commissioner of" Patents.

above, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A single wall metal barrel for beer and the like having an external centrally positioned apertured circumferential rib formed integrally therewith and a rectangular side bung fitting mounted in the aperture and forming a section of said rib and conforming externally to the contour thereof, said fitting having one pair of opposite edges attached to said rib, the other pair being attached to the sides of the barrel and being curved to form flanges of the same thickness as the portion of the wall to which they are at tached, said side bung fitting having a substantially fiat inner surface.

2. A single wall container for liquids, comprising a barrel body, a side bung fitting conforming externally with said barrel body and having a substantially flat inner surface, said fitting having an opening therethrough and ha ing in its outer surface a recess, and a molded insulating covering closely contacting the barrel body and having an opening aligned with the opening in the side bung fitting and a projection seated in the recess in said fitting.

3. A metal barrel comprising a barrel body having heads and side walls, said beads being set inwardly from the respective ends of the side walls and connected to integral inwardly-turned continuations of the side walls, said continuations forming a rim around and extending longitudinally outward from each barrel head, each rim having a widened portion adjacent one s de of the barrel, the widened portions being in mgitudinal alignment, and a tap fitting mounted in one of said widened portions.

4. A single wall metal barrel comprising a pair of barrel body halves joined by a circumferential weld, each of said halves having a side wall and being closed at one end by an integral head disposed inwardly from the end of the side wall and connected to an inwardly-turned continuation thereof forming a rim around the head, the other end of the side wall being diametrically enlarged and joined to the similarly enlarged portion of the side wall of the other half to form an outwardly-extending circumferential band substantially centrally encircling the barrel, 9. side bung fitting mounted in an aperture in said band and having an opening therethrough, said side bung fitting conforming exterlorly with said circumferential band and forming on the interior of the barrel a free-draining surface to said opening and a tap fitting mounted in the rim surrounding the head at one end of the barrel.

5. In a single wall metal barrel having a side bung fitting, an exteriorly extending centrally positioned circumferential band formed by an enlarged portion of the barrel body, said side bung fitting being a unitary structure forming a continuation of said circumferential band and having a thickness at the bung opening sufficient to retain a driven bung and tapering at the edges to a thickness equal to the thickness of the barrel body, said bung fitting forming with the barrel body a continuous free-draining interior surface.

6. In a single wall metal barrel having a side bung fitting, an exteriorly extending centrally positioned circumferential band formed by an enlarged portion of the barrel body, said side bung fitting being a unitary structure forming a continuation of said circumferential band and having a thickness at the bung opening sufficient to retain a driven bung and tapering at the edges thereof, the bottom of said fitting being substantiaily flat with the edges thereof meeting said band thereby forming with the barrel body a continuous free-draining interior surface.

1. In a single wall metal barrel having a side bung fitting, an exteriorly extending centrally positioned circumferential band formed by an enlarged portion of the barrel body. said side bung fitting being a unitary structure forming a continuation of said circumferential band and having a thickness at the bung opening sumcient to reta n a driven bung and tapering at the edges thereof, the edges of the said fitting meeting said band thereby forming with the barrel body a continuous free-draining interior surface.

FRANK D. GOLL. JAMES K. WAREHAM.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,121+, 565.

July 26, 19

FRANK D. GOLL, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 28, for the word "beads' read heads; and that the said Let- .ters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this Othday of August, A. c.19 8.

( Seal) Henry Van Aredale Acting Commissioner of" Patents. 

